Polymer nonwoven nanoweb containing ionic functional group and respiratory mask including the same are provided. The polymeric nonwoven web comprises polymer fibers having a diameter in the nanometer range and having a polymer with an ionic functional group in its main chain or side chain. The ionic functional group may be a sulfonate group, an ammonium group, an azanide group, a phosphonate group, a phosphate group, or a zwitterion group having two of these ionic functional groups linked. The polymeric nonwoven web may further comprise a counter ion having a charge of opposite sign to the charge of the ionic functional group, such as Ag.sup.+ or I.sup..

The present invention relates to a method for the control and the treatment of post-harvest diseases in fruits and vegetables by means of simultaneous and combined application of (i) a first formulation, which is aqueous or in the form of an emulsifiable concentrate, which comprises a plant extract and is applied in the form of an aqueous solution and (ii) a second formulation, in the form of an emulsifiable concentrate, soluble liquid or concentrated suspension, which is applied as an aqueous solution, selected from amongst: a plant-strengthening formulation that contains at least one phosphite salt; a fungicidal formulation that contains at least one synthetic fungicide of the phosphonate family, preferably ethyl phosphonic acid salts; or a combination thereof. Each formulation may be a different composition or form part of a single composition. A further subject matter of the present invention is therefore said composition for post-harvest protection of fruits and vegetables which is constituted by the combination of the aforementioned components.

The present invention relates to a method for the control and the treatment of post-harvest diseases in fruits and vegetables by means of simultaneous and combined application of (i) a first formulation, which is aqueous or in the form of an emulsifiable concentrate, which comprises a plant extract and is applied in the form of an aqueous solution and (ii) a second formulation, in the form of an emulsifiable concentrate, soluble liquid or concentrated suspension, which is applied as an aqueous solution, selected from amongst: a plant-strengthening formulation that contains at least one phosphite salt; a fungicidal formulation that contains at least one synthetic fungicide of the phosphonate family, preferably ethyl phosphonic acid salts; or a combination thereof. Each formulation may be a different composition or form part of a single composition. A further subject matter of the present invention is therefore said composition for post-harvest protection of fruits and vegetables which is constituted by the combination of the aforementioned components.

The present invention relates to a method for the control and the treatment of post-harvest diseases in fruits and vegetables by means of simultaneous and combined application of (i) a first formulation, which is aqueous or in the form of an emulsifiable concentrate, which comprises a plant extract and is applied in the form of an aqueous solution and (ii) a second formulation, in the form of an emulsifiable concentrate, soluble liquid or concentrated suspension, which is applied as an aqueous solution, selected from amongst: a plant-strengthening formulation that contains at least one phosphite salt; a fungicidal formulation that contains at least one synthetic fungicide of the phosphonate family, preferably ethyl phosphonic acid salts; or a combination thereof. Each formulation may be a different composition or form part of a single composition. A further subject matter of the present invention is therefore said composition for post-harvest protection of fruits and vegetables which is constituted by the combination of the aforementioned components.

A method for increasing the vigor and/or crop yield of agricultural plants under essentially non-existent pathogen pressure, wherein the plants, the plant propagules, the seed of the plants and/or the locus where the plants are growing or are intended to grow are treated with an effective amount of a composition comprising a) the Bacillus subtilis strain with NRRL Accession No. B-21661 or a cell-free extract thereof, and/or a mutant of this strain or extract having all the identifying characteristics of the respective strain or extract as component (I), and b) optionally at least one chemical compound as component (II), selected from the active compound groups A) to J): A) strobilurins; B) carboxamides; C) azoles; D) heterocyclic compounds; E) carbamates; F) other active substances; G) growth regulators; H) herbicides; J) insecticides.

A method for increasing the vigor and/or crop yield of agricultural plants under essentially non-existent pathogen pressure, wherein the plants, the plant propagules, the seed of the plants and/or the locus where the plants are growing or are intended to grow are treated with an effective amount of a composition comprising a) the Bacillus subtilis strain with NRRL Accession No. B-21661 or a cell-free extract thereof, and/or a mutant of this strain or extract having all the identifying characteristics of the respective strain or extract as component (I), and b) optionally at least one chemical compound as component (II), selected from the active compound groups A) to J): A) strobilurins; B) carboxamides; C) azoles; D) heterocyclic compounds; E) carbamates; F) other active substances; G) growth regulators; H) herbicides; J) insecticides.

Solvent formulations under EC form comprising (% by weight): 10-40% of one or more compounds having an insecticidal activity selected among those of the organophosphate class, comprising the following group (formula (I)):

##STR00001## wherein: L.sub.1 is selected between oxygen and sulphur, L.sub.2 and L.sub.3, equal to or different from each other, are selected from oxygen, sulphur or a NH group, with the proviso that at least one from L.sub.1, L.sub.2 and L.sub.3 is sulphur and at least one from L.sub.1, L.sub.2 and L.sub.3 is oxygen, M is selected from oxygen, sulphur or NH; 1-20% of an additive formed of methyl or ethyl esters of fatty acids having a C.sub.10-C.sub.20 chain, saturated or unsaturated, or mixtures thereof, the fatty acids deriving from vegetal oils; 3-15% of one or more surfactants selected from non ionic and anionic surfactants, or thereof mixtures;
the complement to 100% being one or more organic solvents having the following characteristics: capable to solubilize the active principle, expressed as % by weight, at room temperature (20-25 C.) for at least 5%; preferably 10%, more preferably at least 20%, substantial immiscible with water.

Solvent formulations under EC form comprising (% by weight): 10-40% of one or more compounds having an insecticidal activity selected among those of the organophosphate class, comprising the following group (formula (I)):

##STR00001## wherein: L.sub.1 is selected between oxygen and sulphur, L.sub.2 and L.sub.3, equal to or different from each other, are selected from oxygen, sulphur or a NH group, with the proviso that at least one from L.sub.1, L.sub.2 and L.sub.3 is sulphur and at least one from L.sub.1, L.sub.2 and L.sub.3 is oxygen, M is selected from oxygen, sulphur or NH; 1-20% of an additive formed of methyl or ethyl esters of fatty acids having a C.sub.10-C.sub.20 chain, saturated or unsaturated, or mixtures thereof, the fatty acids deriving from vegetal oils; 3-15% of one or more surfactants selected from non ionic and anionic surfactants, or thereof mixtures;
the complement to 100% being one or more organic solvents having the following characteristics: capable to solubilize the active principle, expressed as % by weight, at room temperature (20-25 C.) for at least 5%; preferably 10%, more preferably at least 20%, substantial immiscible with water.

Solvent formulations under EC form comprising (% by weight): 10-40% of one or more compounds having an insecticidal activity selected from the organophosphate class; 1-20% of an additive (A) methyl or ethyl esters of carboxylic acids having a C.sub.10-C.sub.20 chain, saturated or unsaturated, or mixtures thereof, the fatty acids deriving from vegetal oils; 0.5-10% of an additive B) of a cellulose derivative soluble in the organic solvent of EC formulation; 3-15% of one or more surfactants selected from non ionic and anionic surfactants, or thereof mixtures; the complement to 100% being of one or more organic solvents having the following characteristics: capable to solubilize the active principle, expressed as % by weight, at room temperature (20-25 C.) for at least 5%; preferably 10%, more preferably at least 20%, immiscible with water.

Solvent formulations under EC form comprising (% by weight): 10-40% of one or more compounds having an insecticidal activity selected from the organophosphate class; 1-20% of an additive (A) methyl or ethyl esters of carboxylic acids having a C.sub.10-C.sub.20 chain, saturated or unsaturated, or mixtures thereof, the fatty acids deriving from vegetal oils; 0.5-10% of an additive B) of a cellulose derivative soluble in the organic solvent of EC formulation; 3-15% of one or more surfactants selected from non ionic and anionic surfactants, or thereof mixtures; the complement to 100% being of one or more organic solvents having the following characteristics: capable to solubilize the active principle, expressed as % by weight, at room temperature (20-25 C.) for at least 5%; preferably 10%, more preferably at least 20%, immiscible with water.